Jeanne la Pucelle, Orleans, 1429

The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) was a particularly active period in a conflict that had existed between the kingdoms of France and England since 1066. The origin of it was the claims that the England’s ruling family, the House of Plantagenet had over the throne of France.

Joan of Arc is a figure of early Modernity, of lasting influence and inspiration for all the concepts she embodies. She appeared in a moment in which it seemed that the tide was turning in favor of the English side.

“La Pucelle” left her family after receiving visions of the saints urging her to expel the English out of France. She managed to get support from part of the nobility and had her most relevant triumph when she lifted the siege of Orleans in 1429. Inspired by her, the French army routed the English from the Loire valley and destroyed their army at Patay. That allowed her to lead the dauphin Charles VII to Reims and had him crowned king. Even if she seemed unstoppable, she got injured in her attempt to free Paris and taken prisoner in front of Compiegne. She was burned alive by the English at Rouen when she was only 19 years old.

Our rendition of this glorious character is based in the appearance she might have had during the lifting of the Siege of Orleans. Clad in armor and wearing a visored bascinet, she would have carried her famous sword, found at the church of Saint Catherine of Fierbois which legend has it once belonged to Charles Martel. Included in the kit are two optional heads for the bust, one with the bascinet and the other bare, with the hair moved by the wind.